Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-26
THE FIRST WARD SCHOOL.
A Gentleman Who Makes Some Critical
IN

Comments.
NORTH WHEELING, February "a, 81.
To the Editor Of the Register.
SIR-As the First ward public school
building has been the town talk for several
weeks, and everybody interested has had
their say, and the job is in a fair way TO
eOnsummatiOn. | would respectfully ask
that a small space in your valuable col:
umns be given to one who is not considered
interested therein. in order that be may
call the attention OF %scrutinizing public
to some of the peculiar actions, etc, Of the
public servants and others.
will preface this with the remark that
| do not intend to cast any reflections on
any one, but l am going to hew close to
the line, let the chips fall where they may.
Ii any a is offended, let them remember
that it is the peculiar actions that are be-
ing criticised, not the actors, as L will be
careful TO avoid all personalities. Nor am
l going to sneak in defense of the building
10 particular, but Just state some few
facts | have CLEANED from most reliable
sources.
No matter how good 4 condition the
building could be proven L be in, it has q
bad name; tear it down, do not let one
stone stand on another, dispel the spOOk,
Danish the bOOgabOO. You cannot force
panic stricken par euts To send their children
10 be schOOled in any building against their
prejudiees. But | earnestly contend that
the First ward school building is a better
building than at least two more crowded
schools in this city, and is much superior
in every way to the two rattletraps that
have been abandoned by the county and
/ city officials as unsafe and untenantable
that the Board PROPOSES TO school ouI
children in for the next year or eighteen
months. By-the-way, wouldn't the Board
act a little more consistent like II they
were to expert a little on those venera'
BILE piles, before they compel our teachers
| and children to buTrOw in their inSideS.
The First ward school has been con
demned, and must be RACED to the ground,
| After q ftful eXiStance Ofseyenteen short
summers and corresponding winters, dur
| ing which the greatest storms, the tiercest
winds, and unparalleled floods of the cen
fury have occurred, it must 20.
In the midst of very mild winter IL wa
suddenly discovered to be falling; falling
downward toward the earth, carrying death
and destruction to the helpless inmates
How unworthy the fate. Methinks
hear it exelaim, "Oh, could | have
but gone down amid the warning oil
the elements, like a. brave
warrior; to have felt the Jagged lightning
pierce my vitals, to have shrvered anC
trembled at the thunder's deep roar, t.
have had my sides torn open by the
trumpeps fiereer blasts, or to have sunk to
rest on the bosom OF the flood. Thai
would be an ending fitting for my eyenttu.
career. a heroic death. But no, i must
die: die a most humiliating and disgrace
ful death. The prod of q p~enny-a-hners'
Faber PARALLELS and the professional atten'
lions of an expert finishes me. | am done.
Farewell vain world, etc" Copyrighted
according to law
One mild morning, one that would riyaI
any morn of mild May, u clothed witt
authority entered the school, and with thf
mailed hand of power drove forth the IN
resisting six little ones into the streets,
until such a time rs. a building can be
erected that will crafty the pride and am
bition of the projectors Of this scheme.
How the recent alarm wa sounded by
daiIy paper, demanding the immediate
examination and condemnation" OF tho
building. is well known to all. The con
demnation was prompt, but the examlna'
ton was never made. Like western
ipstice-hang him, and then try him.
The peculiar part of these proceeding
were. that ut the alleged examination, ano
the condemnation, the managers studlouS'
" avoided inviting any one possessed o
any knowledge of the building from paru'
eipating.
After the expert and others had made
their report, a party Of nOn-interested taN
navers lone OF whom l am which, u
eomnany with several gentlemen well alo
favorably known in building circles, made
an informal visit to the premises to see
n the facts existing would bear up the re
p0t of the expert.
The first part of his report resemble:
Hamlet's reading: Words, words Whlct
ia all very well; bat when ne tens
ohont the walls he rambles, stpmhles
a-oDtradicts himself, and finally makes
a nalpable misstatement, Is
he states that he n all OF H,,
intels (stone door and window caps anO
siTls are broken, etc, I" while the facts are
HSrs are no hates Tor Caps) in the !fest srIeA
raj. and ALL of the silb are whole fneIs
are four broken stone in this wall, causes
by cutting windows in the basement stons
work about eight years ago, n Wnlon Sel'
broken at the time, or very shortly aIte
Again, he states that all of the hnteis Aoi
caps) west of the entire centre OIL the ouiIu'
inc. referring TO thenorth and south walls
are broken, while the facts are, that ou'
two are broken. Now ALL oil the stony
| Iintels and sills included in his reportnunn,
bYr so pieces, of which number but . al,
damaged, and have been for almost eigul
years and are very little worse now tnal
at that time. Asfor the braces to the nor!p'
west and south walls, and as to the eonul'
tion Of the foundation walls aud iootnnes
and concerning the brick work, ne mas ne
p~ositive knowledge. Because ne neSe,
took up a flooring board to see ne ne'si
removed . piece of base or other nnlsn :
lind ont; he never removed a shOVeiiai o